Skate.



, Patented July 4, I899. S. W. FINCH.

SKATE.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1899.)

No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY W. BUNCH, OF \VASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,433, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed March 23, 1899. Serial No. 710,215. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY W. FINoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington,in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in skates, and has to deal more particr the runner; Fig.4, a detail perspective view of the forward wheel and the connections shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 a similar view of a modified wheel support or arm.

The object of the invention is primarily to provide means whereby an ice-skate may be converted into a bicycle-skate without raising or elevating the foot-support to such an extent as to preclude or prohibit the use of the skate. In other words, the object is to produce a low-down convertible ice and bicyole skate.

Herctofore ice-skates have been converted into roller-skates; but so far as I am aware the rollers (four in number) have generally been so placed and arranged with relation to the blade or runner as to make the skate too high for practical use. Moreover, the advantages of the bicycle-skate over the roller-skate are manifest and well known. With my invention wheels of a diameter considerably larger than the ordinary roller are employed without making the skate materially higher than the ordinary ice-skate,'and by adjustment of'the parts as hereinafter set forth wheels of varying diameter may be used without changing the elevation of the foot support or plate.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Fig. 1, A denotes the blade or runnor of an ordinary ice-skate, B the usual foot sired.

or shoe support, and C the clamping devices, which may be of any approved form or type. Manifestly ordinary straps may be employed in place of the clamps.

Extending from the rear end of the blade are two arms or supports D, one on each side, the arms being bolted to. the blade by two bolts E and F, the first being passed through a hole formed in the inner ends of the arms and through a corresponding hole in the blade.

- Bolt F passes through the arms or supports D and through one of a series of openings G, formed near the rear end of the blade or runner. Itwill be seen that by providing the series of openings G the arms may be raised or lowered, as desired. The outer ends of the arms are provided with means for attaching the axle of the wheel H, which are here illustrated as slots I, formed in the arms.

Instead of making'the rear-wheel support in the manner just alluded to it is manifest that it may be made of a single piece of metal bent to form or cast, as may be desired. Such a construction is shown inFigJ5, and it may be connected to the blade in any manner de- In fact, either this form or the one above described may be fastened to the skate in a number of ways, and I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to any particular means or mechanism.

Extending from the forward end of the blade or runner is an arm or support J,'-preferably formed of a single piece of metal bent upon itself, forming a head K. The ends of the arm pass to each side of the blade or runner and are secured thereto in a manner similar to the rear support by means of bolts L M, the former acting as a pivot for the arm,while the latter passes through one of a series of openings N, as desired.

The head K provides a support for any suitable bearing, in which is swiveled or pivotally mounted the stem of fork O, carrying a wheel P similar to the rear wheel I-I. mally hold the wheel P in alinement with the skate, I employ a spring Q, which in the form illustrated is shown as a simple flat plate, one end being secured to the head of} thefork, while the opposite end is clampedjbetween the members of the arm J It is or course immaterial what form of springbe employed so long as it is suflicient to maintain the To nor- I wheel in .its normal position. As with the rear-wheel support this front member may also be cast, if found advantageous.

When the arms or supports are in their desired adjusted position, they are securely clamped to the blade by the bolts.

With the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 the front support or arm is formed integral with the blade or body and a fork similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 is employed for holding the wheel.

In Fig. 3 an ordinary skate is shown with an adjustable arm or support attached to each end in the manner described in connection with Fig. 1; but instead of the rear wheel beingmounted in the manner shown in said Fig. 1 it is carried by a fork pivotally connected'to the arm or support, similar to the front wheel.

\Vith all the various forms described it will be noted that the foot-plate is relatively low and that consequently the strain upon the ankle is reduced to a minimum. It willalso be seen that larger wheels may be employed by placing them in the relation shown rather than below the runner. A long wheel-base is also seeureda point which materially contributes to the ease of the skate in use.

WVith the preferred construction-that shown in Fig. 1-the arms orsupports, with the attached wheels, may be removed when desired and the whole skate placed withina small compass. The same is true of the form illustrated in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 I have a shown a shield on guard S secured upon the runner or blade. This guard willpreferably be made of india-rubber molded to fit the runner and to hold itself in place by reason of its own elasticity. By the use of this guard the blade or runner will be protected from injury while being used as a bicycle-skate or when the skate proper without the attachments is being handied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a convertible ice and bicycle skate, the combination of an ice-runner; an arm or support adjustably secured to each end of the runner, and extending out therefrom; and a wheel removably mounted in each of said supports in line wit-l1 the runner.

2. In a skate, the combination of a blade or runner; an arm or support extending out from each end thereof; a wheel carried by the rear arm; and a support for a second wheel, swiveled in the forwardly-extending arm.

3. In askate, the combination of a blade-0r runner; an arm or support adjustably secured to each end thereof; a wheel carried by the rear arm; and a support for a second wheel swiveled in the forwardly-extending arm.

' 4. In a skate, the combination of a runner or blade; an arm or supportadjustably secured to the rear end thereof; a wheel carried by said support in line with the runner; an arm or support also adjustably attached to the forward end of the blade; a fork swiveled in said support; a wheel carried by said fork; and a spring serving to maintain said fork and wheel in alinement with the blade.

5. In combination with an ice-skate, a wheel support or arm extending out beyond each end of the runner; a wheel carried by one of said arms; and a wheel-support for a second wheel swiveled in the other of said arms.

6. A guard for ice-skates comprising a flexible cover adapted to be secured over the edge of the runner, and to be held thereon by its own elasticity.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

STANLEY w. FINCII.

. \Vitnesses:

HORACE A. DODGE, O. O. BURDINE. 

